Related stories

Popcorn completes any movie experience. Whether it's watching the latest Hollywood release at the cineplex or viewing a classic in front of the living room television, a bowl of the salty, light stuff is usually within reach. With the Academy Awards approaching, why not add pizzazz to this snack food to match the year's biggest celebration of film. Take flavors inspired by the nominees and dress up your next Oscar viewing party with a buffet of the movie-time staple.

A good starting point would be to look at the films nominated for best picture. With nine titles vying for the top prize, there are several sources for ingredients to incorporate new combinations for popcorn. To begin, create a base batch of 4 cups of popcorn, either air-popped white popcorn with a light oil, such as canola or vegetable oil, or 2 bags of microwaved natural popcorn without butter.

"The Tree of Life" and "The Help" — The South and all its flavors are embedded in both dramas. Add ½ cup of praline pecans and a sprinkle of chili powder to give the popcorn a sweet and spicy flair.

"The Descendants" — Toasted coconut evokes the exotic flavors of Hawaii. Add 1 cup of unsweetened shredded coconut flakes to a nonstick skillet on medium heat. Stir the flakes consistently until they are slightly golden, and toss them into the popcorn. Add about ½ cup of macadamia nuts for an added crunch.

"Hugo" and "Midnight in Paris" — These love letters to the City of Lights' bygone era from Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen, respectively, deserve a savory touch. Herbes de Provence is a mix of dried thyme, rosemary, fennel, savory, sage and sometimes lavender that is commonly used to season meats and stews in southern France. Coat popcorn with olive oiled-flavored cooking spray and add about 1 tablespoon of herbes de Provence for a woodsy, peppery treat. Herbes de Provence can be found in the spice/baking aisle of your local grocery store.

"The Artist" — A silent, black-and-white film calls for the combination of salt and cracked black pepper.

"Moneyball" — Caramel corn is a baseball staple, but it can be messy and time-consuming to make. Simply combine bite-size pieces of your favorite peanut-caramel candy bar to the get the same taste with less effort.

"War Horse" — Adding turnips to popcorn as an ode to the Narracotts does not sound appetizing. Instead, stick with the classic tablespoon of melted butter.

Tamara Dunn is a copy editor at The Citizens' Voice and an at-home foodie.

We welcome user discussion on our site, under the following guidelines:

To comment you must first create a profile and sign-in with a verified DISQUS account or social network ID. Sign up here.

Comments in violation of the rules will be denied, and repeat violators will be banned. Please help police the community by flagging offensive comments for our moderators to review. By posting a comment, you agree to our full terms and conditions. Click here to read terms and conditions.